The 2025–26 season is Reading's 155th and their third consecutive season in EFL League One. They are only competing in the domestic league now following their elimination from the EFL Trophy in the group stage after rivals Swindon Town beat Milton Keynes Dons 4–0. They also competed in the EFL Cup but were eliminated in the third round losing 2–0 away to EFL Championship club Wrexham and the FA Cup and were eliminated in the first round losing 3–2 after extra time at home to Enterprise National League club Carlisle United. This is Reading's first season under the ownership of Redwood Holdings, and was the first full season under the management of former player Noel Hunt who replaced former manager Rubén Sellés on 6 December 2024. On 26 October 2025, Reading sacked former player and head coach Noel Hunt with 3 wins in 14 matches after a 1–1 draw at home to Doncaster Rovers on 25 October 2025. Two days later, former Wigan Athletic and Rotherham United manager Leam Richardson was appointed as the new head coach.
Season events
Pre-season Prior to the last match of the previous season, a 4–2 defeat to Barnsley at home, Reading announced that a sale in principle of the club, stadium, and training ground to Rob Couhig's Redwood Holdings Limited. On 14 May 2025, Reading and the EFL confirmed that Redwood Holdings Limited had completed their takeover of the club.
On 16 May, Reading released their retained and released list, with David Button, Harlee Dean, Tom Carroll, Coniah Boyce-Clarke, Adrian Akande, Louie Holzman, Jack Senga, Charlie Wellens, James Sharlott, Kai Source and Verrell George all leaving the club at the end of their contracts on 30 June. Reading confirmed that they had activated one-year extension clauses with Mamadi Camará, Tom Norcott, Joseph Barough, Boyd Beacroft and Mathew Rowley, whilst new contracts had been offered to Michael Craig, Jeriel Dorsett, Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan, Abraham Kanu, Amadou Mbengue, Joel Pereira, Tivonge Rushesha, Michael Stickland, Basil Tuma, Jayden Wareham, Andy Yiadom, John Clarke, John Ryan, Jeremiah Okine-Peters, Ashqar Ahmed. John Clarke, John Ryan, Andy Yiadom and Michael Stickland signed new one-year contracts with the club before the end of June.
On 23 May, Reading announced that they had signed a new contract with club captain Lewis Wing, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2028.
On 28 May, Reading announced that former Wycombe Wanderers and Wales under-21 international defender Joe Jacobson joined the club to work alongside new chairman and owner Rob Couhig as the co-CEO (chief executive officer) and would join the recruitment department alongside manager Noel Hunt and Head of Recruitment Brian Carey.
On 2 June, Reading announced that assistant manager Nigel Gibbs would join newly appointed Ryan Mason at EFL Championship club West Bromwich Albion with immediate effect with Rob Couhig and Noel Hunt looking for a replacement in the not-so-distant future.
On 17 June, Reading announced the signing of Paudie O'Connor to a four-year contract, joining on a free transfer from fellow EFL League One club Lincoln City on 1 July once his contract expired.
On 19 June, Reading released their home kit for the upcoming season which is inspired by the former Biscuit Factory in Reading (Huntley & Palmers) near Forbury Gardens with the design on the tins being featured on the tops.
On 25 June, Reading announced the signing of Jack Stevens to a two-year contract, joining on a free transfer from newly-relegated EFL League Two club Cambridge United on 1 July once his contract expired.
On 25 June, Reading announced that the players would return for pre-season training at Bearwood Park Training Ground for the first time under Noel Hunt.
On 26 June, Reading confirmed that both Amadou Mbengue and Jayden Wareham had turned down new contracts with the club, and would depart at the end of their contracts on 30 June.
On 26 June, Reading announced that Aliya Capital Partners had brought a minority stake in Dogwood Football LLC and that Ross Kestin had joined the Reading FC board as a director.
On 26 June, the day of the EFL League One fixture release, Reading announced that they would travel to Fota Island, in Cork, Republic of Ireland for a pre-season training camp between 15 and 18 July 2025. Followed by a pre-season friendly against 2024–25 UEFA Europa League winners Tottenham Hotspur at Madejski Stadium on 19 July 2025.
July On 1 July, Reading announced new one-year contracts with Tivonge Rushesha and Jeriel Dorsett. With new contracts announced the next day for Ashqar Ahmed, Jacob Borgnis, Carter Bowdery, Phillip Duah, Sam Harrison, Abraham Kanu, Shay Spencer, Basil Tuma and Josh Welland. Ashqar Ahmed and Josh Welland both signed two-year contracts whilst Jacob Borgnis, Carter Bowdery, Phillip Duah, Sam Harrison, Abraham Kanu, Shay Spencer and Basil Tuma all signed one-year deals.
On 4 July, Reading announced that Jeremiah Okine-Peters and Luke Howard had both signed new one-year contracts with the club, and that they had signed Matty Jacob on loan from EFL Championship club Hull City for the season. Also on the same day, Reading confirmed that Michael Craig had left the club after turning down a new contract to sign with fellow EFL League One club Leyton Orient, with Leyton Orient paying an undisclosed fee to avoid a compensation hearing.
On 4 July, Sky Sports announced the matches that will be shown on TV for the first two months of the season with Reading's first match of the season away to Lincoln City (on 2 August 2025), their first home match against Huddersfield Town (on 9 August 2025) and their away match against Bolton Wanderers (on 20 August 2025).
On 7 July, Reading announced the season-long loan signings of Finley Burns from Manchester City and Mark O'Mahony from Brighton & Hove Albion.
On 11 July, Scott Marshall returned to Reading as Assistant First Team Manager to Noel Hunt.
On 15 July, Reading travelled to Cork in the Republic of Ireland for a three-day training camp for the first time since the 2020–21 season.
On 16 July, Reading announced that EFL Championship club and local rivals Oxford United had pulled out of their scheduled friendly with the Royals set for 22 July and that National League South club Slough Town would replace them with the reason for Oxford's reason for cancellation being that they needed to prioritise an evening fixture against Mansfield Town.
On 18 July, Reading released their away kit for the upcoming season which is an orange kit inspired by Reading Town Hall with the outline of the town hall in the background of the kit.
On 19 July, Tottenham Hotspur beat Reading 2-0 at the Madejski Stadium in their first home pre-season friendly in front of a sold-out crowd for the first time since February 2022.
On 22 July, Reading announced the signing of Daniel Kyerewaa on a free-transfer following his departure from 2.Bundesliga club Preußen Münster earlier in the summer, to a two-year contract.
On 23 July, Reading announced the signing of Liam Fraser on a free-transfer following his departure from newly-relegated EFL League Two club Crawley Town earlier in the summer.
On 24 July, Reading confirmed that Abraham Kanu had joined National League club Forest Green Rovers – who are currently managed by former Manchester United and Wales midfielder and the father of Royals midfielder Charlie Savage, Robbie Savage – on a season-long loan deal, and that Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan had signed a new two-year contract with the club.
On 25 July, The Portsmouth News reported that Reading's top scorer from the previous season Harvey Knibbs had agreed a transfer to EFL Championship club Portsmouth. Knibbs played against Reading in the Royals' final friendly the following day with Portsmouth winning 4–0. Following the match Reading manager Noel Hunt said this about the future of Harvey Knibbs after he had not played a single minute of pre-season: "Harvey [Knibbs] pulled himself out today, there's things progressing in the background with a club in the league above [the Championship]. I'm aware there was a fresh bid in this morning".
On 31 July, Reading manager Noel Hunt announced in a club interview that Harvey Knibbs' persecutive move to Charlton Athletic had fallen through after an agreement between the clubs could not be reached.
On 31 July, Noel Hunt announced that Lewis Wing had been made Club Captain, with Joel Pereira being named as Vice-Captain, taking over from Andy Yiadom. Later the same day, Reading announced the signing of Paddy Lane from Portsmouth for an undisclosed fee, on a contract until 2028.
August On 1 August, Reading confirmed that Harvey Knibbs had left the club, to sign for EFL Championship club Charlton Athletic for an undisclosed fee believed to be £1.8 million.
On 2 August, Ahead of their first match of the season away to Lincoln City at Sincil Bank, Reading announced their squad numbers for the upcoming season with the new signings squad numbers being as follows: Matty Jacob (number 5), Liam Fraser (number 6), Daniel Kyerewaa (number 11), Finley Burns (number 12), Paudie O'Connor (number 15), Mark O'Mahony (number 20), Jack Stevens (number 25) and Paddy Lane (number 32). Other notable new squad numbers saw Andre Garcia move from number 30 to number 19 and Michael Stickland move from number 38 to number 22. The number 7 shirt worn by Harvey Knibbs until his move to Charlton Athletic had been left vacant until the signing of Jack Marriott later in the window. The Royals fans have been given the number 13 shirt. Reading went on to lose their opening game 2–0 to Lincoln City leaving Reading in 23rd place. Also on 2 August, Beaconsfield Town announced the loan signing of Josh Welland.
On 4 August, Reading announced three signings for their U21 team, with David Hicks and Miles Obodo signing one-year contracts, and Reece Evans signing a two-year contract. Later the same day, Reading announced the season-long loan signing of Kamari Doyle from Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion.
On 8 August, Tom Norcott joined Woking on a two-month youth loan deal.
On 12 August, Reading travelled to Fratton Park to face EFL Championship club Portsmouth in the first round of the EFL Cup. Reading won 2–1 with Andre Garica opening the scoring for the visitors in the 35th minute – this Reading's first goal of the season in all competitions and Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan then doubled their lead in the 38th minute. Olutayo Singerr then pulled a goal back for the hosts in the 93rd minute. This result gave the Royals their first win of the season in all competitions. The next day, Reading were drawn at home to fellow League One club AFC Wimbledon in the second round of the EFL Cup with the match set to be played on 26 August 2025.
On 14 August, Reading announced the signing of former AFC Bournemouth Academy scholar Jay Williams to their Under 21 squad on a one-year contract.
On 15 August, Reading announced the signing of Derrick Williams to a two-year contract, joining on a free transfer from Major League Soccer (MLS) Atlanta United with Atlanta United retaining a percentage of any future fee.
On 16 August, Reading hosted newly promoted AFC Wimbledon at the Madejski Stadium. Reading lost 2–1 and left the Royals rock bottom in 24th place with 0 points. This match saw Charlie Savage make his 100th Royals appearance and also Reading lose each of their first three fixtures of a league campaign for the first time since the 2018–19 season in the EFL Championship.
On 20 August, gained their first point of the season and move up to 21st place after a 1-1 draw against Bolton Wanderers. The Reading goal was Andre Garica's first professional league goal.